Nigeria: NAFDAC reaffirms ban on Methyl Bromide
By Chinyere Ogbonna – The use of Methyl Bromide as a fumigant for agricultural produce in Nigeria has continued to generate concerns among various agencies in Nigeria.
This is coming as the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control NAFDAC reaffirms its ban of Methyl Bromide. NAFDAC had previously banned the use of Methyl Bromide in Nigeria but was subsequently countered by the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service ( NAQS ). This is contained in statement from the office of the Director General, Mrs. Mojisola Adeyeye, and made available to newsman.
Methyl Bromide
The statement says that the agency’s attention was drawn after some countries had noticed a sudden demand for the use of methyl bromide by Nigeria on some of its agricultural produce exported to them.
“This is a sequel to the new requirement of the government of some countries, such as Mexico and India, that methyl bromide must not be used as fumigant on the agricultural produce being exported to their countries.
“In exercising of her mandate as entrenched in NAFDAC Act Cap No.1 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, we wish to draw the attention of farmers, exporters of agricultural produce, agro-dealers and the general public to the ban on methyl bromide use as a fumigant in Nigeria,’’ it says.
“The use of Methyl Bromide as fumigant is banned and remains banned in Nigeria”, Farmers, agro input dealers and exporters of Agricultural produce are advised to use alternative pesticides which are safer, cheaper and even more effective.”
According to the agency the ban became necessary due to exposure that may occur during the fumigation process. NAFDAC says the effects of the exposure are drawn from studies in humans, which shows that the lungs may be severely affected by the acute (short term) inhalation of Methyl Bromide, Acute and Chronical (long term) inhalation of methyl bromide can lead to neurological….. in humans.
Meanwhile, in a reaction the sector General of Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Mr. Vincent Isegbe says there are exemptions for the use of the chemical and this he said includes when it is used as a chemical in feed stuff, uses which parties in the Montreal protocol deem critical under certain classification by parties to the protocol and use of Quarantine and pre – shipment (QPS).
NAFDAC however insists that though Methyl Bromide has since 1987 enjoyed from the documental abuse and misuse of agro – chemical in the country, the use of Methyl Bromide will outweigh the benefit for critical use. The agency says it has implemented the ban because Nigeria is a signatory to the Montreal protocol. It added that its database showed that methyl bromide had not been registered nor issued on permit for importation and use since the ban.
NAFDAC called on farmers, agro-input dealers and exporters of agricultural produce to use alternative pesticides that were cheaper, safer and more effective.
It also urged the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment to look into the mandatory requirement of methyl bromide fumigants as a critical issue which could bring impediment and injuries to human and the environment.
